Cultural conditions affect somatic embryogenesis in Catharanthus roseus L. (G.) Don

Abstract

We established an efficient plant regeneration system for Catharanthus roseus L. (G.) Don through somatic embryogenesis. Embryogenic callus was induced from hypocotyl of seed germinated in vitro. Somatic embryogenesis in Catharanthus has been categorized into three distinct stages: (1) initiation and proliferation of embryo; (2) maturation, and; (3) germination or plantlet conversion. Beside plant growth regulators, various stages of embryogenesis were screened for their response to a wide variety of factors (pH, gelrite, light, sugar alcohols, polyethyleneglycol and amino acids), which affect embryogenesis. All of the tested factors had a small to marked influence on embryogeny and eventual conversion to plantlets. The plantlets were acclimatized successfully in a greenhouse. To our knowledge, this is the first report describing a detailed study of various cultural factors which regulate embryogenesis in C. roseus. The results discussed in this paper may be used in mass propagation to produce medicinal raw material, and the embryo precursor cells could be used in genetic modification programmes that aim to improve the alkaloid yield as well.

Effect of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Medium pH to Enhance Alkaloid Production from Catharanthus roseus Cell Suspension Culture

“…In conformity to the results of present study Whitmer et al [56] reported that supplying tryptamine or tryptophan along with the iridoid precursors to transgenic cell lines S1 of C. roseus resulted in even further increase of alkaloid accumulation. Addition of a moderate concentration of reduced nitrogen source as L-glutamine followed by L-asparagine in medium also enhances the in vitro process of somatic embryo proliferation and maturation in C. roseus [57]. There was 2 fold increase in production of glucotropaeolin from Tropaeolum majus L. when phenylalanine and cystein fed as precursor amino acids in hairy root cultures [58].…”

High frequency plant regeneration in Indian Siris via cyclic somatic embryogenesis with biochemical, histological and SEM investigations

“…Surprisingly, a many fold increase in the maturation efficiency (53.67 ± 0.88 %) with the development of 52.33 ± 1.45 mean number of cotyledonary embryoids/100 mg subcultured embryogenic tissue was observed on MS medium containing combination of mT (5.0 M), NAA (2.5 M) and (75.0 M) Glutamine referred to as embryo maturation medium (EMM) ( Table 2; Fig 2A-B). Combination of NAA with a cytokinin has been previously shown to influence embryo maturation (Chee, 1992;Wang et al, 2013) however, different authors reported induction of somatic embryoids on NAA supplemented media proving its potential for providing embryogenic competence to the cells (Aslam et al, 2008;Sriskandarajah and Lundquist, 2009). Increased embryogenesis, proliferation and maturation upon the addition of amino acid, l-glutamine to the culture medium have also been reported in Eucalyptus (Pinto et al, 2002); Catharanthus (Aslam et al, 2008).…”

“…Combination of NAA with a cytokinin has been previously shown to influence embryo maturation (Chee, 1992;Wang et al, 2013) however, different authors reported induction of somatic embryoids on NAA supplemented media proving its potential for providing embryogenic competence to the cells (Aslam et al, 2008;Sriskandarajah and Lundquist, 2009). Increased embryogenesis, proliferation and maturation upon the addition of amino acid, l-glutamine to the culture medium have also been reported in Eucalyptus (Pinto et al, 2002); Catharanthus (Aslam et al, 2008). Cotyledonary embryoids do not underwent conversion to plantlets on EMT, rather a new cycle of embryogenesis was initiated from their basal adaxial surface after two weeks from their transfer (Fig.…”

Production and metabolic engineering of terpenoid indole alkaloids in cell cultures of the medicinal plant Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don (Madagascar periwinkle)

“…This embryogenic system can be used in future genetic modification program in C. roseus . Aslam et al [16] established an efficient plant regeneration system for C. roseus through somatic embryogenesis, which may be used in mass propagation to produce medicinal raw material and, in addition, the embryo precursor cells could be used in genetic modification programmes that aim to improve the alkaloid yield. Somatic embryogenesis in Catharanthus has been categorized into three distinct stages: (1) initiation and proliferation of embryo; (2) maturation; and (3) germination or plantlet conversion.…”